How to Make a Wedding Cake

Today’s
wedding cake is no longer a simple vehicle to serve dessert to your guests . .
. it can be the finaldetail carrying out your wedding theme and very often a
work of art! This is evident in the inspiring galleries of wedding cakes
pictures.Ever wonder how a wedding cake
like this is made? We did too! So we recently sought out to find out how.

There are approximately 25 steps involved in making a wedding cake, and that is only for a 3-tier cake. The first major step to making a wedding cake is baking. Mid-week the layers of the cake are baked. However, prior to baking, many other preliminary tasks must be handled. The baking molds are lined with parchment papers (it takes six molds to make a three-layer cake —each layer is two molds so that the fillings can be laid in between so that beautiful look is achieved when the cake is sliced and presented to your guests). The cardboard base for each layer is covered with foil (this prevents the cardboard from getting soggy). The fillings are made and the cakes are baked. Once the cake molds have been thoroughly cooled they are covered with clear wrap until the following day when the decorating begins.

Decorating is the
second major step to making a wedding cake and the essence of your wedding
cakes pictures. Each of the three layers is iced with a thin layer of butter
cream frosting which is the base for the application of the rolled fondant. The
iced layers are brushed lightly with water. A large piece of fondant is hand
kneaded and flattened, very similar to pie dough. The more the fondant is
handled the softer and more pliable it becomes. It is dusted with corn starch
several times throughout the process so it is easier to handle. It is then
placed in a machine called a "sheeter" which continues the flattening
process of the fondant. After this it is placed on the work area and rolled
once again the "old-fashioned" way—with a large rolling pin.

Then the piece of fondant is "draped" over the 1st layer. If there are any bubbles in the fondant, they are pricked with a special tool prior to placing it on the layer.

To make it easier to work from all sides, each layer of the cake is set on a plate that spins. After the fondant is draped over the bottom layer the sides are smoothed down by hand and the excess fondant is trimmed off with a small knife (similar to what you do when making pie crust). All excess fondant is saved and can be added to the pieces for the subsequent layers.

To stabilize the layer, its depth is measured and five plastic dowels are cut and pushed down into the layer. The layer is carefully inspected for any further bubbles or unevenness, and smoothed.

This same process
continues with each of the three layers. Then comes the fun part; bringing your
wedding cakes pictures to life!

On this particular cake, the
second layer had a criss-cross, quilt design, with gardenias placed around the
entire cake. The criss-cross design was achieved by placing a flexible, plastic
template carrying this design and carefully pressing it against the sides of
the layer, leaving the impression of the quilt design on the fondant. A wheeled
tool—similar to a tracer that is used in sewing—was used to make the scores of
the quilt design more apparent. Then a mixture called "royal icing"
(only egg white and powdered sugar—sort of the "super glue" of cake
decorating) is used to place each of the flower on the cake. Each sugar flower
is specially hand crafted ahead of time to each client’s specifications.

Any element or theme of your wedding can be
integrated in the design of your cake. Recent trends include fresh flowers
(similar to the bouquet), rhinestones, pearls or lace replicas. The
possibilities are endless and your wedding cakes pictures will speak for
themselves. This particular cake had no color; however, if color is requested
it is hand-created by adding dyes to the ivory or white fondant. Today’s
designers can match any color you have in mind.

To put on the finishing touches when making a wedding cake, the edge of the plate on the bottom layer is also covered with fondant and then scored with a tool to make an attractive design (none of those frilly doilies here).

Viola, and there you
have it! After our many hours with the cake design team, we can now fully
understand and appreciate the amount of time, effort and craftsmanship that
goes into making a wedding cake. Wedding
cakes pictures now take on a whole new meaning.